92 Ark Project 3 (2/2)

Canute scratched his chin upon Silence's question.

”No, nothing. I just felt that your mask looked cool.”

-I asked the engineering team to make it for me. They can produce almost anything you request. Of course the design was my own idea.

Han who had been watching the two, flinched.

'He probably thinks… that the skull design is cool.'

The skull mask felt very intimidating the first time Han fought against Silence. He looked like the god of death. Though now, he was very familiar with Silence and it appeared to be just an amusing prop.

After, Silence stood up once he finished his meal. He was planning to finish all the overdue training he had been delaying all at once. His every step contained a great strength to them, which also conveyed his desire to grow stronger. Han lightly chuckled while watching Silence walk out.

”He's not as uptight as I assumed him to be.” Canute said.

”He's not such a bad guy like he appears. He's also much stronger than you think.”

Han had won against Silence once during the mock squad battle. This was not possible through sheer skill. Han had a bit of luck and Silence had been careless, Han's tenacity had helped make his victory possible.

”While we're on this topic, have you ever seen Silence's face?”

”No, he must have his own reasons for not wanting to reveal his own face.”

”Is that so?”

Canute let off a sinister laugh as his eyes shined. Han had a bad premonition.

”It's better not to, Canute.”

”What am I going to do?” Canute slyly smiled and Han simply sighed.

”The thing you're thinking of now.” Han knew that dissuading Canute at this point was impossible. Canute left first and winked as he left.

”I'm different from you, I'm too impatient to ignore the things I'm curious about.”

Canute planned his attack against Silence.

Canute's perseverance was very strong. He was very clear with his opinions, and held absolutely no fear of new challenges in his life. Ark had profiled him as a boy who grew up in the fishing village of Norway while watching the north seas. He was one who didn't fear the unknown and instead delved into it deeper.

'Silence.'

Canute was well aware of the rumors which surrounded Silence. Silence was one of the top elites amongst the third year. He was completely helpless against Silence the first time they met.

”Hmm.”

Canute followed Silence to the stamina training center. He sat down on a machine a distance away and began to exercise.

'Is he training his agility? He doesn't train as much with weights.'

Silence exercised with lighter equipment. His training uniform flapped in the wind. Silence geared himself so that not a bit of his skin was open so that he could maintain his mysteriousness.

'From rumors, he wears his helmet because he wanted to hide the injury to his face… but well, if it's really because of a scar I can just apologize afterwards.'

Canute's eyes shined as he let go of his dumbbells. He whistled and leisurely snuck behind Silence.

'Reach out while casually passing him… like I'm just walking past…'

Canute swung his arm and Silence ducked. Canute's eyes widened in surprise.

Tah!

Silence turned around and kicked into Canute's stomach. Canute faltered. The battle ended at once and Silence stood shaking his index finger side to side.

”Damn.”

Canute held his stomach as he got up. Silence mocked the other without words. He pointed his thumb down as he shook his hand. There were countless attempts to snatch Silence's mask. All the third years were extremely curious about Silence's true face. Not a single person had succeeded, and Silence's true face remained a mystery to all.

-It is a ninj-, I mean, a soldier's duty to always remain vigilant.

Silence wrote happily.

”Very funny. Just you wait!”

Canute laughed, promising to return. Silence was wearing his mask, so his expression remained a mystery. He wasn't an easy opponent. You could never guess where Silence's attention was focused, so it was difficult trying to predict his next move. Canute carefully observed Silence whenever he passed the other throughout his day.

”You're still at it?”

Han asked Canute who was hiding behind a crate that was set by the corner of a building.

”Silence will train at the Psychic Training Center everyday for an hour. Silence will pass this place in the next ten minutes. He will never guess that I'm hiding here waiting to ambush him.”

”I see, work hard.”

Han couldn't see the end of Canute's tenacity. He lightly patted Canute's back and continued on his way.

'He'll be here soon.'

Canute silenced his breath and stood on standby to ambush the other. But even after 10 minutes passed, he couldn't even see a speck of Silence. The only people passing by were the other soldiers who resided in the third year zone. Canute suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He slowly turned around. A man in a skull mask silently loomed behind him.

BAM!

Silence stood with crossed arms and playfully kicked Canute. Canute crashed into the wall as he winced in pain.

”How did you know?”

-Are you stupid? You were there for over 30 minutes, of course the others would tell me ahead of time. They told me a moron was hiding behind a crate, who else could it be but you?

Silence wrote in his electric note. His explanation was quite friendly.

”Damn it!”

Canute was too focused on Silence that he failed to notice many important details. Everyone who passed Canute was a stranger to him, but everyone that lived in the third year zone was well acquainted with Silence. If people were gossiping, of course Silence would come to know about it.

Now that it's come to this, I'll just fight you fair and square. Come! Sly bastard!”

Canute yelled confidently. Silence nonchalantly shrugged and followed through with his next move. He evaded Canute's attack using showy moves, all the while calmly countering all the attacks. Canute looked dizzy after a couple punches to the head. Blood flowed from his nose. Canute had strong close combat skills, however his skills were nothing but child's play against Silence.

Canute spit out blood from his mouth. His eyes faintly glowed into a green hue. His healing factor recovered most of his minor injuries in an instant.

'Healing factor? He will be very troublesome and annoying.'

Silence scratched his chin. It was very difficult to do away with someone with regenerative unique abilities.

”Good, good. Come on! Without fighting spirit, I'm no different than the undead.” Canute shouted.

Silence let out a quiet sigh. His body shined.

Weeng!

Silence used his blink skill to teleport to the building rooftop. He took out his electric note and scribbled a message.

-A true warrior never backs away from a battle but… it's cheating to fight with a healing factor like that.

Silence disappeared in a flash. Canute frowned. At this point, seeing Silence's true face wasn't important. The other's true face could be whatever, for all he cared.

'I have my pride as a man.'